Ever seen blood in a baby’s stool? Want to know why that happens? Read the following article to find out more.
Probably one of the most terrifying sights that a parent can encounter – blood in their baby’s stool. It goes way up there with some other conditions like the baby having a fall or falling sick. When there are traces of blood in the stool, any parent is bound to experience waves of panic – hashing and rehashing over the reason why it has come to be. There could be numerous reasons for blood in stool and that is exactly what this article will hope to shed light on. Read if you’ve ever been in a situation like this and want to know what to do about it.
Reasons
It’s pretty clear that finding traces of blood in a baby’s stool is a cause for concern. But a parent might be clueless about why it has happened. Here are some reasons that could cause this phenomenon.
Constipation
One of the most common causes for blood in baby’s stool is constipation. The color, consistency and texture of the stool will change depending on the kind of food the baby is consuming. If the baby is on mother’s milk, then the stool will be normal (yellow and runny) but if there are external formulas being fed or other substances like cereal and pureed foods then there are chances that the baby’s stool will be hard and the baby will get constipated. There will be difficulty passing the stools. This happens because as the stools harden, they cause abrasions to the passageway and inflame the skin, which can lead to slight bleeding.
Infection
The baby’s digestive system is very delicate and hence the chances of getting an infection from external food are very high. These external food and liquids could have a number of bacteria and parasites that can cause the digestive system and the intestinal functioning to get skewed and result in internal bleeding. This blood will then be passed through the stools. In fact, blood and mucus in stool is a common by-product of an infection.
Allergic Reaction
Babies are prone to get allergies very often because their immune system is weak and not fully developed to function effectively. Many times, babies have food allergies to the formulas that they are fed with. This might cause bleeding in their intestines and other digestive organs, which is then passed through their stools. Many times, there will also be mucus in stools along with the blood as a result of this.
From the Mother
Many times, a breastfeeding mother might have cracked nipples which bleed slightly. When the baby feeds and swallows the milk, this blood will also pass through its system and cause a bloody stool.
Oversupply of Milk
Sometimes an oversupply of breast milk might lead the baby to become lactose intolerant and lead to an intestinal infection. Thus, there might be bleeding which will be passed on through the stools and lead to black bowel movement.
Medication
Certain medication forms can bring about blood in the stool as a side effect. These could be vitamin and fluoride drops.
Abrasion in Rectum
The main reason of an abrasion, fissure or crack coming about is when a baby has hard stools and finds it difficult to pass them. These hard stools hurt and stretch the delicate skin around the passageway and the entrance of the anus and cause for blood to be drawn. This blood then flows into the stool.
Blood in baby’s stool is usually an indication of a health problem. If you notice that the baby is reluctant to use the lavatory and you find blood in his/her feces, check to see if you can pinpoint the causes that lead to traces of blood in stool. Consult a doctor immediately to clear any doubts.
